Cycling
The Scottish Borders is great to explore by bicycle. The gently rolling hills make getting about easy and you can cover a great deal of ground in very little time.
Find routes at: www.visitscottishborders.com
A short drive north to Peebles and Innerleithen offers some of the best mountain biking in the UK. Details here

Food and Dining
At home:
W.F Anderson, The Square, Melrose
Fresh produce from the river and the farm is always available in Melrose. The local fishmonger daily stocks the fish caught in Eyemouth on the East Coast. Mr Anderson’s family travel the 30 miles to Eyemouth daily and pick the freshest cod, haddock, salmon and shell fish straight from the fisherman’s boats for the tables in Melrose. A good proportion of the Scottish fish catch is transported to the Mediterranean on a daily basis, but we in Melrose receive the fish 24 hours before the visitors on the Mediterranean. If you have any special requests Mr Anderson will find the fish of your choice if the boats have landed it that day.

The local butcher buys his meat from the Borders. Locally grown lamb and beef are particularly succulent. Also available are venison and grouse and the popular scotch pies and haggis.

Abbey Wines, 17 Market Square, Melrose
Ian and Joanne Gibbin are the local connoisseurs and purveyors of fine wine. Ian and Joanne will provide you with a wine list to tempt you and `will deliver the case ready for your arrival. If your party would find a wine tasting or a whisky tasting evening of interest, Rhymers Fare would be happy to oblige.

W and A Williamson, High Street, Melrose
Scotland is not generally known for its fruit and vegetables. In Melrose however at Anderson’s fruit shop there is an abundance of choice. In summer this can be supplemented by the many pick your own establishments in the area.

Country Kitchen, 1A Market Square, Melrose
This lovely shop, run by Ronnie and Myra, stocks a vast array of cheeses, many of which you may not have seen before. Of course there is a vast array of other mouth watering food and we can only advise visiting the delicatessen to see and taste for yourself.

Supermarkets
Tesco and Asda both open 24 hours are also available in Galashiels which is about 10 minutes by car with ample car parks.

Eating Out:
Within walking distance

Burts Hotel, High Street, Melrose
A family run town house with extensive bar menus and table d’hote
Town House Hotel, Market Square, Melrose
An ambient restaurant with a menu specialising in local produce

Monte Cassino, Palma Place, Melrose
A family run Italian restaurant set in the converted Melrose station a stone’s throw from the main square.

Marmion’s Brasserie Buccleuch Street, Melrose
An established restaurant equally enjoyable for both lunch,dinner and even just for coffee

Ship Inn East Port, Melrose
A traditional welcoming pub with a wide range of beers and spirits. It also has a beer garden.

Russells Restaurant Market Square, Melrose
A delightful licensed coffee house seving home made baking and traditional fayre.

Abbotsford. The home of Sir Walter Scott
An exclusive dinner party for upto 22 people can be arranged in the library of this beautiful stately home. This would be a evening to remember under the replica ceiling of Rosalyn Chapel, remembered in the Da Vinci code.
www.scottabbotsford.co.uk

Fishing
The Tweed is the second longest river in Scotland and takes great pride in the fact that it produces more fish than any other river in Britain. It has a deserved reputation as one of the world’s great salmon fisheries. As well as salmon, there is the chance to fish for trout and grayling.
The river is just 5 minutes walk from the house.
fishtweed.co.uk
fishing-scotland.net
flyfishing-scotland.co.uk

Golf
Melrose has a number of golf courses on its doorstep. Why not visit a different golf course each day of your holiday? Melrose golf course sits at the foot of the Eildon Hills, St Boswells golf course on the edge of the River Tweed, 5 miles further down the river from Newstead, there is Ladhope golf course which is about 5 miles up the river to Galashiels and is a stone’s throw from the golf course at Torwoodlee. If four courses in a week is not sufficient, why not try Jedburgh, Lauder or Roxburghe Golf Courses? You can also take advantage of the Freedom of the Fairways offer created by the Scottish Borders Tourist Board.

Melrose Golf Club
St Boswells Golf Club
Ladhope Golf Club
Torwoodlee Golf Club

Rugby
The Scottish Borders is famous for its rugby. The traditional Border League houses inter-town rivalries that are age old. The Rugby Sevens game was invented in Melrose over a century ago and the annual sevens tournament, held in April, is world-famous, still attracting the world’s top rugby sevens teams. A trip to Melrose RFC’s home ground ‘The Greenyards’ to watch a Saturday afternoon tussle is most recommended.